How we see ourselves takes up a lot of time and column inches. It is necessary – and occasionally challenging – to read the view of others.

Richard Wolffe in his piece in today’s Guardian, Oh, Britain: the chasm between myth and reality keeps on growing, nails it

Today the Brits are worried they look like Italians, with new prime ministers every few months or weeks.

In fact they should be worried they look like Austrians, sitting in a jewel-encrusted museum piece at the heart of a once-great empire, arguing among themselves about nationalists and immigrants.

British prime ministers used to come and go like vintage wines. Every few years there might be a classic. Now they come and go like utility bills: painful and entirely forgettable.